ActionThrillerAdventureCrime

The Jackal

- How do you stop an assassin who has no identity?

Hired by a powerful member of the Russian mafia to avenge an FBI sting that left his brother dead, a psychopathic hitman known only as The Jackal proves an elusive target for the people charged with the task of bringing him down: a deputy FBI director, a Russian MVK Major, and a jailed IRA terrorist who can recognize him.

Release Date : 1997-11-14

Language :EnglishRussian

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal PicturesMutual Film CompanyAlphaville FilmsUGC PHMarubeniTOHO-TOWABBCTele München

Production Country : CanadaFranceGermanyJapanUnited KingdomUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : The Day of the Jackal

Cast

Character Name : The Jackal

Original Name : Bruce Willis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Declan Mulqueen

Original Name : Richard Gere

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carter Preston

Original Name : Sidney Poitier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Major Valentina Koslova

Original Name : Diane Venora

Gender : Female

Character Name : FBI Agent T. I. Witherspoon

Original Name : J.K. Simmons

Gender : Male

Character Name : Isabella Zanconia

Original Name : Mathilda May

Gender : Female

Character Name : FBI Director Donald Brown

Original Name : John Cunningham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ian Lamont

Original Name : Jack Black

Gender : Male

Character Name : Douglas

Original Name : Stephen Spinella

Gender : Male

Character Name : The First Lady

Original Name : Tess Harper

Gender : Female

Character Name : Terek Murad

Original Name : David Hayman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ghazzi Murad

Original Name : Равиль Исьянов

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maggie

Original Name : Maggie Castle

Gender : Female

Character Name : FBI Agent McMurphy

Original Name : Richard Lineback

Gender : Male

Character Name : Speaker

Original Name : Karen Kirschenbauer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Akashi

Original Name : Daniel Dae Kim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beaufres

Original Name : Serge Houde

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woolburton

Original Name : Leslie Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : George Decker

Original Name : Steve Bassett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alexander Radzinski

Original Name : Jonathan Aris

Gender : Male

Character Name : General Belinko

Original Name : Richard Cubison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ambassador Koldin

Original Name : Bob Kingdom

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vasilov

Original Name : Peter Sullivan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dave

Original Name : John Harrington Bland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Davis

Original Name : Terry Loughlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dennehey

Original Name : Walt MacPherson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Green Beret Colonel

Original Name : Jim Grimshaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Surgeon General

Original Name : Terrence Currier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jamaican Girl

Original Name : Sophie Okonedo

Gender : Female

Character Name : Man in Video

Original Name : Michael Caton-Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman in Video

Original Name : Laura Viederman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Paramedic

Original Name : Gregory Porter Miller

Gender : Male

Character Name : NSC Representative

Original Name : Murphy Guyer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bored Teenage Clerk

Original Name : Philip LeMaistre

Gender : Male

Character Name : CIA Representative #1

Original Name : James McCauley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Victor Sobchak

Gender : Male

Character Name : Immigration Officer

Original Name : Serge Christiaenssens

Gender : Male

Character Name : Interrogator

Original Name : Boris Boscovic

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prison Guard

Original Name : Ewan Bailey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman with Champagne #1

Original Name : Danette Alberico

Gender : Male

Character Name : Woman with Champagne #2

Original Name : Debra Gano

Gender : Male

Character Name : Law Clerk

Original Name : Pamela Poitier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Washington Cop

Original Name : Eddie Bo Smith Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : CIA Representative #2

Original Name : Dan Ziskie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Gayle Jessup

Gender : Male

Character Name : Medic

Original Name : Bill Collins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pilot

Original Name : David Gene Gibbs

Gender : Male

Character Name : Co-Pilot

Original Name : James M. Helkey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Larry King

Gender : Male

Character Name : Victor Politovsky

Original Name : Yuri Stepanov

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

Globetrotting pursuit of a master-of-disguise assassin RELEASED IN 1997 and directed by Michael Caton-Jones, "The Jackal” is an international crime thriller about a joint FBI/MVD mission (led by Sidney Poitier and Diane Venora) that enlists the aid of an imprisoned IRA combatant (Richard Gere) to stop a brutal master-of-disguise assassin known as The Jackal (Bruce Willis) from completing a big hit in Washington DC. This was a loose remake of the film “The Day of the Jackal” (1973), which was based on the 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth. The first act is too convoluted for my tastes as the story globetrots from Moscow to Helsinki to Canada to the USA. But the movie finds its footing and settles into an entertaining political action flick not far removed from the tone of “The Saint” with Val Kilmer, released the same year. Both films are from the same genre, have the same tone, were made for the same amount ($60 million), feature an antagonist who’s a master-of-disguise and are named after that person. While both movies made roughly the same in North America ($55-60 million), “The Jackal” proved more popular worldwide, making almost $160 million, which was $50 million more than “The Saint.” IMHO “The Jackal” is the more all-around entertaining picture. Critics love to lambaste this movie because (1.) it deviates too much from the original film and (2.) because of the mounting nonsensical elements. But (1.) “The Jackal” was made to stand on its own in late 90’s cinema and (2.) why do other action thrillers like James Bond get a pass when it comes to ridiculous plot holes? Besides, many of the supposed nonsensical moments can easily be cleared up if you pay attention to the details; not all of them, of course, but many of them. What I don’t like is the disingenuousness of many of the criticisms. For instance, Roger Ebert’s opening criticism of the film was to mock the way The Jackal sneaks into the USA from Canada by purchasing a sailboat and entering a race from Mackinaw to Chicago. Ebert reasoned that there are easier ways to enter the US inconspicuously along the 3000-mile border, but he left out an important detail: The Jackal was smuggling a huge computerized machine gun and its formidable mount. THAT is why he bought the yacht and used the race as a means to enter the country unnoticeably amidst a crowd of other crafts. Aduh. One of the best aspects of this flick is the great cast and seeing them work together. Poitier was 69 during filming and looks very distinguished; this was incidentally his last theatrical release (although he appeared in four TV movies in the ensuing four years). Jack Black is effective in a peripheral role tailor-made for him. But it’s Gere and Willis who steal the show, naturally. The latter is particularly entertaining in an almost shocking departure from his typical easy-going, friendly persona. As The Jackal, Willis is relaxed, carefree, cold, malicious, cunning, calculating, smart, icy and ruthless; a charming psychopath. I shouldn't close without mentioning the excellent score by Carter Burwell mixed with an edgy alternative rock soundtrack, featuring cuts by Massive Attack ("Superpredators" and "Dissolved Girl") and the like. THE MOVIE RUNS 2 hour, 4 minutes and was shot in Moscow, Finland, Montreal, London, the Carolinas, Virginia and Chicago. SCREENPLAY: Chuck Pfarrer. GRADE: B-/C+

JPV852

@JPV852

2023-02-21

This is one I've seen several times over the years and while certainly not great and it is funny hearing Richard Gere with an Irish accent and the numerous hair changes with Bruce Willis, I still find it watchable and somewhat entertaining. That said, how the Jackal was written was a problem because while for most of the movie he's a cold-blooded and calculating character, his actions of going after Isabella was strange to do in the midst of planning an assassination versus going for revenge (which itself didn't make sense) after he completed his mission and got paid, and that's not to mention giving away his true target with a line about Declan unable to protect his women, though even then not sure how Declan came to that (albeit correct) conclusion. Probably just lazy script writing. However, there are some cool shots (in the days when they used helicopters for aerial shots compared to using drones) and the direction from Michael Caton-Jones was solid. **3.0/5**

Niko

@Hubi

2024-10-01

The Jackal is the kind of Thriller that does everything by the book. Most of the movie is comprised out of well-known and established tropes, it's got a packed cast and decent action scenes. It may not reinvent the wheel or keep you on your toes, but it does offer some solid 90's entertainment for about two hours.